Has Foundation Season 3 changed the game with its latest villain reveal? Here’s everything we know

**Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers for Foundation Season 3 Episode 3 and Isaac Asimov's Foundation and Empire book. Reader discretion is advised.**

Icelandic-French actor Tómas Lemarquis made his debut in Apple TV's Foundation Season 3 as Magnifico Giganticus, the mysterious balladeer of the Mule, who seems to have a hypnotic and intoxicating effect on the warlord (and others) with his music.

The introduction of Magnifico Giganticus also suggests that the show has finally revealed its most dangerous villains from Isaac Asimov's books, which resulted in one of the major twists in the story.

While Pilou Asbæk's warlord Mule is the primary antagonist in Foundation Season 3, Asimov's readers know that Magnifico Giganticus is not just an ordinary balladeer, but the real Mule and the biggest threat to Foundation and Empire.

This twist about the Mule's real identity was certainly a shocker for Asimov's book readers, but his introduction raises a lot of questions. The adaptation has now introduced both versions of Mule (unlike the books, where the warlord never makes an appearance), and it would be interesting to see how their relationship will change things in Foundation Season 3.

More on this in our story.

Foundation Season 3: Exploring the identity of Magnifico Giganticus in Asimov's book

The introduction of Magnifico Giganticus in Foundation Season 3 Episode 3 suggests that the show is finally adapting the book's most shocking and exciting twists, while making several key changes to the story.

Magnifico Giganticus, a character from the books, made his appearance as the mysterious musician of the Mule, who was seemingly being tortured by his master. While Magnifico and the Mule orchestrated the most happening party in Kalgan, with booze, food, and music, it was evident that the balladeer was being physically tortured by his master.

While the musician's tunes crafted an intoxicating spell on the Mule, who was distracted by Toran in a 'game of insults', the Mallows successfully rescued Magnificio from the warlord's den. The Mallows basked in glory with this win, thinking that they had finally infiltrated the Mule's inner circle and Magnifico was the key to unlocking him.

However, unbeknownst to them, Magnifico Giganticus is the real Mule. In Asimov's second novel, Foundation and Empire, the Mule assumes the identity of a balladeer (Magnifico Giganticus) to learn about the location of the Second Foundation. His warlord persona (played by Pilou Asbæk) only operates from the shadows and never makes an appearance in the book.

How has Foundation Season 3 changed a major book arc with Magnifico Giganticus' introduction?

As mentioned above, the warlord version of Mule never appears in the books, which means that the balladeer and the warlord never interact with each other openly in Asimov's original story.

However, the balladeer and the Mule not only interacted in Foundation Season 3's latest episode, but it looks like the former had an intoxicating effect on the latter with his music. Since the warlord version never existed in the books, Magnifico Giganticus was the real Mule.

The introduction of both versions of the character in Foundation Season 3 raises a lot of questions about Pilou Asbæk's Mule and what is his relationship with the balladeer. The latest episode hinted that Pilou Asbæk's Mule is just a pawn in the hands of the real Mule, as he says:

"Do you ever feel like your life is not your own? Like it's been overtaken by some horrible spirit."

The spirit referred to here is likely Magnifico Giganticus, and it would be interesting to see how this twist of two Mules will unfold in the latter half of Season 3 in Foundation.

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